When it comes to training camp every year, there’s usually one San Francisco 49ers star in the middle of the action: linebacker Fred Warner.
Known for his hard-hitting style and smack talk, Warner has frequently engaged in verbal and physical battles in training camp, testing his teammates while making plays as one of the 49ers top defenders. On the other side of that battle? Brock Purdy, who has gone up against Warner every training camp of his career, making for some strong battles between the offense
and the defense.
Well, things got feisty over the weekend, as Purdy and Warner had a back-and-forth in camp that really was on display on Sunday. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the two sides were frequently making plays and letting the other hear it. Purdy had a nice layered throw to Mike Evans over Warner, who later responded by breaking up a pass to Demarcus Robinson, while sharing a few words for his quarterback.
Purdy fired back with a throw over the middle to Deebo Samuel, once again beating Warner, and the quarterback had some choice words for the star linebacker, firing back. That has been a fun battle all training camp long, and it’s got the team fired up.
“I think it’s cool. It’s competitive,” offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said of Purdy engaging in some of the verbal chatter with Warner. “It’s respect with his teammates that they can do that and shake hands after, and they can line up and compete and try to get the best out of each other. Talk a little smack. But at the end of the day, a lot of respect between those two guys. And that’s why they’re really good players. They go out there, compete every day, and they have an edge, but they’re great teammates at the end of the day.”
With injuries looming over the team, having that energy from two leaders on the team can amp up the competitiveness at a crucial point in training camp.
“It was a friendly conversation. It’s camp. That’s what it is,” right tackle Colton McKivitz said. “You got 2 competitors. I mean, we’re all competitive, but you’ve got 2 leaders of the team, 2 competitors of the team in a period of practice where we’re in the dog days of camp. I mean, we got 2 [practices] left till the game, and then that’s it.
“So it’s kind of one of those practices where, you know, everyone’s a little sore, banged up, tired, but it just means more to some guys. And for them to be jawing back and forth, it’s great for us. It shows everyone’s into it. Everyone cares. There’s a lot of pride in what the drill is. And we’re competing against each other right now. So, the fact that there’s always going to be a little banter and offense versus defense, but we’re just making each other better.”
We don’t often hear about that verbal side from Purdy, so it’s a fun sign to see him engage with Warner and win some of those battles on the field.
